Hairy leukoplakia

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the main
cause of hairy leukoplakia. Once you get this virus, it remains in your body permanently.
EBV is usually dormant. However, it can cause hairy leukoplakia patches to
develop at any time. Outbreaks are more common in people with HIV or other
immune problems.

How
is leukoplakia diagnosed?

Leukoplakia is usually diagnosed with an oral exam. During a
physical exam, your dentist or primary care doctor can confirm if the patches
are leukoplakia. You might mistake the condition for oral thrush. Thrush is a
yeast infection of the mouth. The patches it causes are usually softer than
leukoplakia patches. They may bleed more easily.

Your dentist or doctor may need to do other tests to confirm
the cause of your spots. This helps them suggest a treatment that may prevent
future patches from developing.

If a patch looks suspicious, your dentist or doctor will do
a biopsy. To do a biopsy, they remove a small piece of tissue from one or more
of your spots. They then send that tissue sample to a pathologist for
diagnosis. The goal is to look for signs of oral cancer.

What
are the treatment options for leukoplakia?

Most patches improve on their own and don’t require any
treatment. It’s important to avoid any trigger that may have caused your
leukoplakia, such as tobacco use. If it’s related to irritation from a dental
problem, your dentist may be able to address this.

If a biopsy comes back positive for oral cancer, the patch
must be removed immediately. This can help prevent the spread of the cancer.

Small patches can be removed by a more extensive biopsy using
laser
therapy or a scalpel. Large leukoplakia patches require oral surgery.

Hairy leukoplakia may not require removal. Your dentist or
doctor might prescribe antiviral medications to help stop the patches from
growing. Topical ointments containing retinoic acid can also be used to reduce
patch size.

How
can leukoplakia be prevented?

Many cases of leukoplakia can be prevented with lifestyle
changes:

Stop
smoking or chewing tobacco.

Reduce
alcohol use.

Eat
antioxidant-rich foods such as spinach and carrots. Antioxidants may help
deactivate irritants that cause patches.

Contact your dentist or doctor immediately if you suspect
leukoplakia. This can help keep the patches from getting worse.

Follow-up appointments are crucial. Once you develop
leukoplakia, you have an increased risk of developing it again in the future.

What is the long-term
outlook for leukoplakia?

In most cases, leukoplakia isn’t life threatening. The
patches don’t cause permanent damage to your mouth. Lesions usually clear on
their own within a few weeks after the source of irritation is removed.
However, if your patch is particularly painful or looks suspicious, your
dentist may order tests to rule out:

A history of leukoplakia can increase
your risk for oral cancer, so let your doctor know if you’ve noticed
irregular patches in your mouth. Many of the risk factors for leukoplakia are
also risk factors for oral cancer. Oral cancer can form alongside leukoplakia.